Nicola Mining Launches $1.5M Drill Program at New Craigmont Targeting 775m Anomaly
Nicola Mining has commenced a $1.5M 2026 diamond drilling program at its New Craigmont Copper Project near Merritt, BC, testing the ZTEM-defined 'Jotun' resistivity anomaly at approximately 775 metres downhole. The drill hole, executed by Dorado Drilling, aims to assess a potential porphyry-skarn copper system.
1. Drill Program Launch
Nicola Mining has initiated its 2026 Exploration Diamond Drilling Program at the New Craigmont Copper Project, collaborating with Dorado Drilling Ltd. The program will drill a single hole planned with an 80° dip and specific azimuth to intersect the Jotun ZTEM anomaly at around 775 metres downhole.
2. Jotun Target Background
The Jotun target was defined by a 2022 ZTEM survey that highlighted a strong resistivity high north of the historical Craigmont pit. Two 2023 drill holes south of the anomaly intersected porphyry-style alteration, suggesting the anomaly may represent the causative intrusive source of the high-grade copper skarn.
3. Budget and Next Steps
The program carries an estimated budget of $1.5 million, covering diamond drilling, geophysical surveys, and soil sampling. Drilling is expected to conclude in early June, followed by a Mobile Magnetotelluric survey and thermal vectoring data processing to refine targets and plan potential follow-up drilling.